Entries in Gay Stockholm
(8)

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 10:04AMIF YOU LIKE THIS PRESS RELEASE, PLEASE SHARE

BRITISH LGBT AWARD WINNING “DESTINATION OF THE YEAR” TO HOST 2016 EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

Stockholm will be the Host City of Eurovision Song Contest in May 2016. This was decided on Wednesday by Swedish host broadcaster SVT and European Broad Casting Union (EBU). Together with SVT, the City of Stockholm will create a new innovative arena concept, including all four venues - Tele 2 Arena, Ericsson Globe, Hovet and Annexet - in the Stockholm Globe District. This will be a unique concept in Eurovision history.

"It is an honor to be the host city of Eurovision Song Contest. Stockholm is music. Our city is boiling of activities that revolves around music. Creativity is close to our heart and we want this to be visible during the event. Hosting Eurovision is an opportunity for us to strengthen and stimulate the interest that music creates. We are looking forward greeting the world to Stockholm in May", says Karin Wanngård (s) Mayor of Stockholm.

The main events will take place at all four venues in the Stockholm Globe District. The finale will take place in Ericsson Globe on May 10-14th 2016.

"The solution with multiple arenas enables us to produce the Eurovision Song Contest in the Globe, have the press center at the Hovet and the delegations area at the Annex. The Jewel in the Crown is to take Eurovision Song Contest to the next level by incorporating Tele2 Arena during the evening of the finale" ,says Martin Österdahl, executive producer of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016

Did you know that three of the competing songs during ESC2015 were written in Stockholm during Song Writing Camp in January. Stockholm is the birthplace of the Swedish music phenomenon, from ABBA to Avicii, and one of the worlds leading music exporters.

“The 'Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network' of the Stockholm Visitor’s Board, alongside 'Stockholm Gay Life’, an organization for the gay business and social community in Stockholm are thrilled to be able to host this global event that has great appeal to so many LGBTI people – an opportunity to showcase our fabulous city, that we believe is among the, if not THE, most open-minded, LGBTI-welcoming city in the world. To hear of this just before we go into this year’s Stockholm Pride and Eurogames is fantastic news”, says Christina Guggenberger, who heads up marketing and outreach to LGBTI visitors, for the city of Stockholm.

-ENDS-

Notes

The Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network is a unique project within the Stockholm Visitors Board, funded by the city and travel partners (hotels, museums, restaurants, attractions) passionate about promoting LGBTI travel into the city – one of the only such networks in the world. Find out more at gaylesbian.visitstockholm.com or by following us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/gaylesbianstockholm / #outinstockholm

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 5:30PMIF YOU LIKE THIS PRESS RELEASE, PLEASE SHARE

NEWS FROM STOCKHOLM...

Something scary is going on in the Baltic Sea. Foreign submarines are lurking around the archipelago due east of Stockholm and despite millions of tax dollars spent; The Swedish Armed Forces can’t find them. The Russians deny everything but the Swedish militaries are sure something is going on. It’s all hands on deck – for everyone. It’s time to shift gears and show the trespassers who’s in charge.

This alternative weapon is a sub surface sonar system sending out the Morse code: “This way if you are gay”. The Singing Sailor also features a neon sign with a sailor waving his white flag above the text “Welcome to Sweden - Gay since 1944” (the year Sweden legalized homosexuality). Interesting info for any Russian crew member passing close by.

The Singing Sailor cost a fraction of the Swedish navy’s unsuccessful submarine hunt. But most importantly, he is a contribution to the debate that we 2015 should move military resources into alternative, collaborative conflict resolution methods.

The situation for LGBT rights in Russia is horrible. We could do so much more for peace and human rights with the billions we now spend on weapons purchases and military initiatives. Efforts that would actively prevent conflicts, instead of the rearmament that is being proposed now, says Anna Ek, president of The Swedish Peace and Arbitration Soiciety.

Love, peace and singing sailors

The Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society is the world’s oldest peace organization and three times associated with winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sweden is one of the world's most open-minded LGBT destinations and its capital city, STOCKHOLM was the recent winner of the BRITISH LGBT AWARD for Destination of the Year. To find out more about Stockholm and plan a visit, visit its LGBT dedicated site gaylesbian.visitstockholm.com - #outinstockholm

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 1:03PMIF YOU LIKE THIS PRESS RELEASE, PLEASE SHARE

Stockholm is thrilled to announce that after a public jury of over 100,000 votes from the UK’s LGBT community, that the capital of Sweden was awarded “Destination of the Year” at the British LGBT awards. Stockholm faced tough competition from larger European capital cities, including Paris and Amsterdam and also some LGBT-favourites, Gran Canaria, Brighton and Key West, Florida.

This accolade, dubbed Britain’s “Gay Oscars” and is the UK’s most high-profile gay awards recognises the people and organisations with a track record in promoting equality and diversity and those the gay community has a great affection for. The award honours Stockholm the UK’s favourite gay travel destination this year, celebrating the destination’s ongoing commitment to promoting LGBT tourism.

Christina Guggenberger, who has headed up the Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network of the Stockholm Visitors Board for over 10 years comments:

“We thank the British LGBT Awards for this, it is such an honour to be nominated, and to win is truly amazing. All the destinations nominated tonight are winners because they do great work in promoting important LGBT travel, something we are passionate in Stockholm. We believe in absolute diversity in our city and promoting inbound travel is not something we do just because it is good for the tourism economy, but because LGBT equality is something that is really part of our way of life.”

Uwern Jong of Boutique Marketing, who is Stockholm’s LGBT Ambassador across UK and Europe comments further:

“Our ultimate thanks goes to the Great British LGBT public, over a hundred thousand of you who voted for us as your favourite destination. We’ll be so pleased to have you all in Stockholm, especially this year with our Big Gay Stockholm Summer including Stockholm Pride and Eurogames. Tussen Tack! as we say in Swedish. A thousand thank yous to you all and hope to see you in Stockholm later this year!!”

The Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network, a project within the Stockholm Visitors Board is unique, funded by partners who are passionate about gay and lesbian travel into the city. It works on groundbreaking global campaigns to market and develop Stockholm as an interesting and attractive destination to LGBT travellers.

Stockholm has long been attracting LGBT tourists, but it was just a few years ago that targeted campaigns to draw British LGBTs kicked-off, firstly creating interest in the destination for its world-famous Pride celebrations, but then driving more specific all-year-round interest in its sophisticated culture, fashion, food and LGBT lifestyle – and its beautiful and friendly people.

The city is a must-visit – the perfect place for a gay wedding or honeymoon (celebrating six glorious years of equal marriage backed by the Church of Sweden) and this year, proud host to Eurogames, one of the biggest global LGBT events.

Monday, July 28, 2014 at 6:03PMIF YOU LIKE THIS PRESS RELEASE, PLEASE SHARE

It’s Pride week here in Stockholm and we’re gearing up for Scandinavia’s biggest LGBTQI Pride Festival. But on a normal day, there’s so much to be proud of here. So we're thrilled to feature a few special Pride related nuggets from our proud city.

MEET SANDRA EHNE, PRESIDENT OF STOCKHOLM PRIDE

On the Stockholm Gay and Lesbian blog this month at gaylesbian.visitstockholm.com, you can get acquainted with Sandra Ehne, President of Stockholm Pride. Despite her being a busy bee this month, she took time out of her schedule to speak with us, and we asked her about everything from where she finds her inspiration, to what not to miss in Stockholm. Read the whole interview here. More about Stockholm Pride 2014.

MORGAN’S STOCKHOLM

“We hold hands and kiss just like everybody else who’s in love.” Morgan.

Rather than showing the classic image of Stockholm, ten Stockholmers have been asked by Stockholm Visitors Board as part of their mainstream campaign, to share their thoughts about the city they love. Neither attractions nor classic views are on display. Instead, ordinary Stockholmers openly discuss their love for Stockholm, their interests, their relationship to the city and how they live here.

The ten videos feature people like Jonas the geocacher, Madde the skateboarder, Sam the runner, Öivind the grandfather, and Otilia, who found love on the subway. But our favourite here is Morgan’s story – a gay man who believes Stockholm is the greatest gay city on earth and recently married his husband on a church on Södermalm. The videos conclude with the hashtag #mystockholm and the pay-off “What’s yours?”.

One other thing we’re really proud of here in Stockholm is our food. Stockholm has experienced a culinary boom the last couple of years. Now everything, it seems, evolves around food. New venues are opening one after another. A block or two away from the tourist track you will find some of the most interesting places in town right now. Here are our tips!

Vigårda

Vigårda is a fast food restaurant located in the shopping center Mood. We like the interior as much as the food! It’s a stylish, affordable, fast food BBQ restaurant with delicious food. Vigårda is – fast food as we like it! http://vigarda.se/

Brasserie Le Rouge

There’s no Swedish minimalism at this place. Visiting the restaurant Le Rouge is like stepping into French fin-de-siecle. Classic French and Italian composed menus are served here, and tradition is more important than trendiness. Don’t miss the bar next door, Le Bar Rouge, which has quickly become one of Stockholm’s most popular hang-outs! http://lerouge.se/

Orangeriet

This convivial cocktail bar and outdoor cafe is located on Norr Mälarstrand seafront. The bartenders are topnotch, and the stylish décor is reminiscent of English gardens. The high level of ambition and attention to detail are familiar from Melker Andersson’s other restaurants. http://orangerietbar.se/

SLEEP NO MORE

To celebrate Stockholm Pride 2014 (28 July to 2 August) the Berns is hosting its own epic party. Packed with international and local acts from the world’s LGBT scene, Berns’ celebrations get going as soon as ‘The Queen of Europe’, Conchita Wurst, has opened Pride - at Östermalms IP AKA Pride Park on Wednesday, 30 July - with revellers heading to the hotel’s newly-launched gay club night, ‘Glory’.

Then, on Saturday, the real party starts. Kick off an unforgettable evening at Berns’ chandeliered concert hall, Stora Salongen, which promises a wild and insanely-fun night of cutting-edge music and unforgettable atmosphere - courtesy of London-based GutterSlut - featuring renowned DJs such as Per QX, Nic Fisher and Ralf Obergfell. UK DJ club collective,Horse Meat Disco, will also be pumping out exciting tracks in the hotel’s Spegelsalen, or pop downstairs to Berns’ own basement nightclub, Gallery 2.35:1 (open for one night in the summer only), for a live set from resident DJ Staffan Lindberg and DJ Boris - a popular fixture of Berlin club life.

Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 4:56PMIF YOU LIKE THIS PRESS RELEASE, PLEASE SHARE

As the days get longer and we approach midsummer, it really is an amazing opportunity to spend as much time outdoors as possible. In Stockholm, this is a brilliant time of year, as the sun just takes a short nap each day. With so much daylight and so much to do, Stockholm makes for the perfect activity-packed city-break. More clout for your Krona!

This month, we've decided to focus on some truly unique things about Stockholm. We’d love to take you on a journey to explore Stockholm’s past in a very contemporary way, in this series of ideas that “re-imagines” the city. We hope this inspires you to find out more…

GRETA GARBO AND THE WOODLAND CEMETERY

The late legendary Hollywood movie star Greta Garbo’s niece spent several years searching for the proper burial place for her aunt. She found it at the Woodland Cemetery (Skogskyrkogården) in Stockholm.

If you are a true Greta Garbo fan, make sure you takethis tour, and follow in the “footsteps of Garbo”.

The Woodland Cemetery is place of sublime beauty and poetry. Created over a period of a quarter century (1915-1940) on about 250 acres of pine-covered boulder ridge under the direction of the famous modernist architects Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz.

Considered one of the most important works of the modernists, it evokes a Nordic philosophy on nature, life, and death. There are also a number of beautiful chapels and a visitors center. The Woodland Cemetery is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994.

Around the turn of the millennium, the creativity of the Swedish fashion scene seemed to explode. The exhibition Swedish Fashion: 2000–2015 at Sven-Harry’s Art Museum in Stockholm explores the rapid aesthetic and conceptual transformation that took place during this eventful period.

What were the dominating silhouettes, colours, materials, techniques and garment cuts? Are there design elements from these years that could be regarded as specifically Swedish? And why does denim play such a prominent role in contemporary Swedish fashion?

Swedish Fashion: 2000-2015 charts the triumps, the phenomena and the tendencies that shaped the image of Swedish fashion in the first 15 years of the new millennium. The collection shown is unique and was made possible by the dedication of the Swedish fashion scene.

The ultimate re-imagination of Swedish history is a beautiful private house and garden in the center of Stockholm that has been created for people looking for something more personal than the luxury hotel.

With twelve rooms, Ett Hem offers discerning guests comfortable interiors and bedrooms full of summery whiteness of light. Outdoors, the courtyard garden is a room as important as those inside. It’s a secret city wilderness that is the perfect place for summer breakfasts or winding down over a chilled bottle of wine. Staying at Ett Hem is like being a house guest in somebody’s private home. Guests are welcome to do as they please but will be taken care of down to every last detail. Ett Hem is there for you to use as if it were your own house.